Electric railway.



No. 716,995. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

E W FARNHAM ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1902,\

6 Sheets-Shes! l.

(No Model.)

rf esaeg- Jam Patented Dec. 30, 1902. E. w. FARNHAM.

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'A um' filed A r. 11

E. w. FARNHAM. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1902.)

N0. 7l6,995. Patented Dac. I902.

(no Model.) s sheew-sheet 3.

WIHIIE'SSE 5 yQWM.

No. 7l6,995. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

E. W. FARNHAM.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1902. (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheat 5L IWIMIWMIII I I IIl llllllillllrlll Will! N0. 716,995. Patanted Dec. 30, I902.

E W FARNHAI ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1902.)

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ED WILSON FARNIIAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,995, dated December30, 1902. Bpplication filed April 1 1902. Serial No. 102,408. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 'irmg concern.-

Be it known that I, ED WILSON FARNHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric railways of the class that have athird or contact rail made up of insulated blocks or sections,with meansfor placing each section in electric connection with the source ofelectric energy when the car passes over said block or section.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved system ofthis kind in its entirety.

A further object is the production of an improved mechanically-actuatedmeans for connecting one of the blocks of the contact-rail with thesource of electric energy.

A further object of the invention is the pro duction of means forelectrically disconnecting the last preceding block when the car enterssuccessively upon each block or section of the system.

In the embodiment herein shown of this invention the contact-rail is inchannel-iron form and is suspended in a continuous box or casing open atits under side,elevated slightly above the surface of the road-bed, andextending throughout the length of the system. This rail, it is obvious,may be placed within an underground conduit and the contact-shoe carriedby the car arranged to bear upon it.

The contact-rail comprises several fixed sec.

tions of any suitable length having at each end thereof a swinging ormovable section projecting slightly below the surface of the fixedsection and adapted to be moved longitudinally slightly when thecontact-shoe carried by the car contacts one of said swinging sections.The movement of this swinging section is adapted to mechanically operatean electrical device that energizes the block or section of which theswinging section is a part, at the same time deenergizing the sectionfrom which the contactshoe has passed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and l are diagrammatic viewsillustrating the general arrangement of parts in a railway systemembodying my invention, Fig. 1 illustrating the setting-switches thatplace the insulated blocks or sections of the contactrail in electricalconnection with the feedermain. This figure also shows signals betweenadjacent sections, not further described or claimed in this application.Fig. 1 shows the restoring devices for electrically cutting out thesection last passed by the car. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 a sideelevation, of a swinging rail-section and its mechanical connection withthe electrical switching device, by means of which switching device theblock or section of which the swinging railsection is a part is placedin electrical con nection with the source of electric energy. Fig. 4 isa diagram representing several blocks or sections of the contact-rail ofthis system. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an electricswitching device, the operation of which cuts in and cuts out the blockor section of contact-rail that it controls. In practice one of theseswitching devices is provided for each end of each block or section ofthe contact-rail. Fig. 5 also shows a plug cut-out for temporarilycutting out said switching device, also for connecting two adjacentblocks or sections when either of the switching devices in one isdisabled. Fig. if is a perspective view of the guidefinger mounted onthe restoring-disk and overlying one of the contact-plates thereon. Fig.6 is a side elevation of the switching device and plug cut-out shown inthe last preceding figure, and Fig. 6 is a view of the plug cutouts,illustrating the connection for joining two adjacent blocks or sectionsand causing both to be electrically controlled by the switch devices ofone of said blocks or sections. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switchingdevice and the means for mechanically actuating the same, the housingfor said device being shown in section. This view also illustrates oneof the plug cut-outs and the wiring therefor. Fig. 8 is a transversevertical central section through the switching device, also showing insection the rail and its casing. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical centralsection through one of the brackets employed to support the fixedrail-section, also showing the grooves for carrying the feeder-wires andthe signal and other communicating wires. Fig. 10

illustrates the means for making the electric connection between thefixed contact-rail of a block and the switching device. Fig. 11 is adiagram illustrating that part of the switching device employed todenergize the section from which the car has moved. Fig. 12 is atransverse section through the switching device on dotted line 12 12 ofFig. 6.

In the construction of a railway embodying this invention I provide theusual track, the rails A of which are bonded to form a return connectionbetween the motor in the car and the source of electric energy. At theside of the track I support by any suitable means a continuous casing A,of Wood or other substance, open at its under side and extendingthroughout the length of the system, and within this casing secure bybrackets A the fixed contact-rail A of channel form in transversesection. The rail A is supported within the brackets A by means of thebolts A but is electrically insulated from said brackets by theinsulators A Within ,the casing, above the brackets A and resting uponthe latter, are two insulatingblocks A, grooved in their adjacent facesto carry the feeder-wires in the upper part of the casing, the upper oneof said blocks being also grooved in its upper face'to carrysignal-wires or other communicating wires. At a little distance fromeach end of each fixed rail-section A I provide an opening A formed inthe bot-tom of the fixed rail, for receiving a swinging rail-section Asuspended from the brackets A by means of the links A and A, the latterone of which links is provided with an upwardly-extending bell-crank armA, having at its upper end a connecting-rod A connecting it with thebell-crank lever A pivotally mounted upon the standard-support A on thefixed rail A The free arm A of the bell-crank lever is provided with ahead A adapted to strike againsta sliding rod, to be hereinaftermentioned, which rod extends through an opening in the side of saidcasing and is connected with and operates the switch-actuatingmechanism, to be described later herein. The endwise movement of theswinging rail-section is limited by the buffer A which also serves totake up the force of the blow struck by said rail-section when carriedforward by the contact-shoe.

At each end of each block or section of the fixed contact-rail andadjacent to the swinging rail thereof I provide a housing B forconraining the electrical switching mechanism, with a hinged door toprovide access to the interior of said housing. The housing B is fixedupon the side of and is supported by the rail-casing A and is providedwith an insulating base-plate B, of slate or other suitable material.Two brackets 13 extend outwardly from this base-plate B and support attheir outer ends a vertical oscillatory shaft B upon the lower end ofwhich shaft is fixed a switch-head B of conducting material, into whichhead are set at diametrically opposite points two insulating blocks 13,and the switch-head B4 is insulated from the shaft B by means of theinsulating-bushing B A number of fiexibleprimary contact-fingers B aresecured to the insulating base-plate B and extend outward therefrom,theouter ends of said fingers lying in contact with the'head B A number ofsimilar secondary fingers B are secured to and extend outward from thesaid base-plate B, their forward ends contacting the head 13 on theopposite side thereof. The insulating-blocks B are placed in saidswitch-head diametrically opposite, so that the two series ofcontact-fingers B and B both rest upon the insulating-blocks when saidswitching device is in its normal position of rest.

A restoring-disk G, of insulating material, is fixed upon the verticalshaft B above the switch-head B and this disk carries upon its peripherya contact-plate O and at a point diametrically opposite a contact plate0 Over the contact-plate C is a spring guidefinger C offset from theperiphery of said disk at one point and curving toward said disk at itsend. In the offset portion of this spring-guide C is provided a notch oropening 0 for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned. Two contact-fingersO and C are secured side by side to the insulating baseplate B andextend outward therefrom, their ends lying in contact with the peripheryof said restoring-disk-O, on one side thereof, and being adapted tocontact the contact-plate 0' upon said disk. A single spring-finger (Jis secured to the insulating base-plate B at a point opposite to thefingers C and O and extends outward into a position to cont-act with itsouter end, the restoring-disk G, and the contact-plate G Thespring-finger O carries a pin C adapted to pass through the notch G inthe offset portion of the spring-guide C when the disk is rotated in onedirection and to ride upon said guide when the disk is rotated in theopposite direction. The effect of this is that the spring-finger Ccontacts the contact-plate 0 when the restoring-disk O is rotatedmechanically by the passing of the car and is raised from contact withsaid contactplate when the disk 0 is electrically restored to its normalposition ofrest. A flexible wire 09 connects the secondary fingers LE.with the contact-plate O and a wire ac joins the finger C with abinding-post 0 A similar binding-post O on the opposite side of thebase-plate B carries a wire y, that forms the windings of the solenoid,to be later herein described, and extends to and has electricalconnection with the base of the finger C The finger O has a wire y,which connects it with a graphite resistance-rod, to be later hereindescribed.

An arm D is fixed to the upper end of the shaft B and carries near itsouter end a pivotally-mounted sleeve D,within which the rod D lies andis secured. This rod D is the one hereinbefore alluded to as the switchactuating rod, and from its connections it will be seen that a movementof the swinging section A of the contact-rail slides the rod Dlongitudinally and that by means of the pivotal sleeve connectionbetween said rod and the shaft B said shaft and the switching device arethereby rotated. The arm D also carries at its outer end a core D curvedin the arc of a circle concentric with the pivotal center of the shaft BThis core is adapted to be reciprocated within a solenoid D also formedconcentric with the axial center of said shaft B stated, the windings ofthis solenoid are composed of the wire y, which wire also passes to thecontact-finger The arm D extends rearwardly of its pivotal bearing,forming stop projections D adapted to impinge upon a portion of theupper one of the supportingbrackets B for the shaft 13 to limit themovement of said arm and said shaft in either direction. A handle Dconnected with said arm, provides a means for manually operating theswitching device.

Near the lower edge of the insulated baseplate B, I secure in theclamping-brackets E a rod E, of resistance material. I have usedagraphite composition for this rod. The wire y connects the base of thefinger O with the resistance-rod E, and the movable sleeve Efrictionally engaging said rod, has a wire 14 running to a commonreturn-wire f or to the bonded rails A of the track.

The fingers B are connected by means of the wires F with one end of oneof the plug cut-outs F, the opposite endof which cut-out is connected bymeans of the wires F with the feeder-main F, the connection between thewires F and the feeder-main being made by means of the sleeve F, whichsurrounds and is clamped upon said feeder-main. The other plug cut-out Fis connected at one end with the wires 15 from the fingers B and at itsopposite end with the wires F connected with a section of the fixedcontact-rail, this connection being made by means of theconnecting-block F secured within the channel of said rail. Each of theplug cut-outs F is made in two parts electrically connected by means ofthe plug F lying within the socket formed between said parts. Eachcut-out is also provided with a socket F for connecting the two cut-outstogether by a plug-line F should it be desirable to cut out theswitching device of said section and place the contact-rail of saidsection in direct electrical connection with the feeder-main.

An automatic visual signal F may be used in connection with my improvedrailway system to guard each end of each section; but such signal systemis not included in this application.

Gr represents a car having the motors G thereon and the controller Galso the arms G extending from the side of the car, for supporting thecontact-shoes G A car running upon the traction-rails A As hereinbeforeplaces its contact-shoes G in contact with the under side of thecontact-rail, passing from section to section of said contact-rail asthe car progresses. As the forward contact-shoe of the car strikes theswinging rail A at the approached end of a section the shoe raises andmoves forward said swinging rail, moving the rail upon its pivotal linksA and A The connecting-rod (A connection between the bell-crank arm A ofthe link A and the bell-crank lever A moves said bell-crank lever andcauses the head .A thereof to thrust the sliding rod D longitudinallyand by means of the connection between said rod and the arm D oscillatesthe vertical shaft B of the switching device and rotates the switch-headB and the restoring-disk O. In its normal position the head ]3 lies withits insulatingblocks 13 in contact with the fingers B and B cutting offthe electrical current in the feedermain (which current is also in theprimary fingers B from the section of the contact-rail with which saidswitching device is in circuit. The partial rotation just described ofthe switch-head B moved the insulating-blocks B from under the ends ofthe contact 'fingers B and B causing said fingers to rest upon theperiphery of the switch-head, and, as said head is of conductingmaterial, establishing electrical connection between the fingers B "andB thus placing a section of the contactrail in electrical communicationwith the feeder main. The restoring-disk 0 being fixed upon the shaft 13was rotated with it, the contact-plate 0 being turned into contact withthe finger C The wire to connects the contact-plate C with the secondaryfingers B so that when said secondary fingers are in circuit with thefeeder-main and receive current therefrom the contact-plate C is also incircuitwithsaidfeeder-main. Ourrentpasses from the contact-plate 0through the finger C the wire a, and the wire y (these wires ofdifferent switching devices being connected) to the solenoid of theswitching device at the approached (farther) end of the section lastpassed by the car. After traversing the windings of the solenoid of saidswitching device the current passes to the contact-finger'O through thecontact-plate O to the contactfinger 0, through the wire Zj to theresistance-rod E, and through the wire to a cominon retu rn-wi re orthetraction-rails A. This establishes an electric current through the coilsof the solenoid,attracting the core of said solenoid, rotating the shaftB of said switching device, and restoring the head B of said switchingdevice to a position of rest-that is to say, to a position wherein theinsulatingblocks B lie under the ends of the contactfingers l3"- and Bi-cutting out the lastpreceding section of car has just passed fromelectrical connection with the feeder-main.

In the restoring oscillation of the restoringdisk 0 the finger (J israised from contact with the contact-plate C the pin 0 of saidcontact-rail over which the finger riding upon the guide and liftingsaid finger over said contact-plate C The object of this is to preventmaking a contact that would restore the switching devices in the sectionupon which the car is running, and thereby denergizing said section.

The car passes from section to section, me chanically cutting in thatsection of contactrail upon which the forward contact-shoe enters andelectrically restoring the switching device at the approached end of thelast preceding section. The wire 00' extends to the solenoids of bothswitching devices on the section last passed by the car, so that in casethe movement of the car was reversed when either of the contact-shoeswas in contact with the swinging rail at the near end of the lastpreceding section and both switching devices thereby were set both willbe restored when the car leaves-said section. The wire 00 of theswitching device at the forward end of each section runs into andcontinues the wire u of both switching devices of the next precedingsection. I

For convenience and certainty of description I will refer to Figs. 1 and1, wherein I have designated the sections shown in said figures by thenumerals l, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the switching devices of each of saidsections by the letters a, and b. The car, we will suppose, is passinginthe direction indicated by the arrows in said figures and is justentering section 3. At this point its forward contactshoe has moved themovable section of contact-rail at the approached end of section 3, andthe movement of this rail mechanically oscillates the switch-head b ofsaid section into the position indicated in Fig. 1. This movementof theswitch-head places section 3 of the contact-rail in electricalcommunication with the feeder-main, the current passing through thewires F to the plug-block F, through the wires F to the primarycontact-fingers B across the switch-head B, through the secondaryfingers B through the wires F through the plug cut-out F, through thewires F connecting with the contact-rail by means of theconnecting-block F secured within the channel of said rail. The carcompletes the circuit with the dynamo at the power-station through itscontact-shoes G its controller G its motors G, its wheels, and thetraction-rails A. The oscillation of the switch-head B also rotated therestoring-disk O, which is secured to the shaft B but, like theswitch-head B is insulated from said shaft. The rotation of saidrestoring-disk moves the contact-plate G into contact with thespring-finger C and also moves the contact-plate 0 into contact with thespring-fingers (J and C. When the secondary fingers B are supplied withcurrent from the feedermain, a current passes through the wire 00 to thecontact-plate 0 through the contactfinger 0 through the wire 00, and, asillustrated in Fig. 1, passes from the switching device I) of section 3to the fingers C and G of both switching devices (a and h) of section 2,also to the finger (1 of the switching device a in section 1. From thisdescription it will be understood that the circuit for operating therestoring device is in shunt relation to the main circuit. As the car intraversing section 2 set only the switching device I) at the head ofsaidsection, said switching device only is restored. If the car had moved incontrary directions at opposite ends of said section 2 and had set bothswitching devices a and b of said section, the movement of the switchingdevice I) would restore both switching devices a and b of section 2/ Hadthe car entered section 2 and by moving in contrary directions atopposite ends of said section set both switching devices a and b of saidsection 2 and then departed from said section 2 into section 1, thewiring from the restoring-disk O in the switching device a of section 1is calculated to restore both switching devices a and b of section 2.

The course of the electric current in passing through therestoring-circuits is secondary fingers B wire m, contact-plate 0*,contact-finger O Wiring :1." to one or more adjacent switching devices,and therein wire y, solenoid, contact-finger O contact-plate U,contact-finger 0 wire y, resistance-rod E, wire 1 to return-wire ortraction-rails A. It is understood that the circuit is complete tosecondary fingers B from the feeder-main F by wires F plug cut-out F,wires F, primary contact-fingers B and switch-head B.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric railway, in combination, afeeder-main; and a contact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, eachblock comprising a fixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, and

a switch device oscillatory upon a vertical center and having aconnection with said movable contact-rail, whereby said switch device ismechanically set by the movement of said movable rail.

2. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch device oscillatoryupon a vertical center and having a connection with said movablecontact-rail, whereby said switch device is mechanically set by themovement of said movable rail, and means for electrically restoring saidswitch device to a position of rest.

3. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising aswitch-head oscillatory upon a vertical center, a circuit in shunt tosaid switch-head, a restoring device in said shunt-circuit, andmechanical means for oscillating said switchhead.

4. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising aswitch-head, oscillatory upon a vertical cenchanically set by themovement of the movable rail, a restoring-switch adapted to be actuatedby said switch device, a solenoid in circuit with said switch, a corefor said solenoid, and a mechanical connection between the core and themovable rail for moving said device to restore the power-circuit to adeenergized condition.

18. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch deviceadapted to be mechanically set by the movement of the movable rail, arestoring-switch adapted to be actuated by said switch device, asolenoidin circuit with said switch, a core for said solenoid, an arm forsupporting said core, a rod connected with said arm, pivotal links forsuspending the movable contact rail, a bellcrank lever, and aconnecting-rod for connecting one of said pivotal links with saidbell-crank lever.

19. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, and a switch device, saidswitch device comprising an oscillatory shaft, a switch-head fixed onsaid shaft but insulated therefrom, a contact-finger in electricconnection with said feeder-main adapted to contact said switchhead, acontact-finger in electric connection with said contact-rail alsoadapted to contact said head, an insulating-block in said head forcarrying one of said fingers, an arm fixed to said shaft, and mechanicalmeans actuated by said movable contact-rail for oscillating said shaft.

20. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, and a switch device, saidswitch device comprising an oscillatory shaft, a switch-head on saidshaft, a contact-finger in electric connection with said feeder-mainadapted to contact said switch-head, a contact-finger in electricconnection with said contact-rail also adapted to contact said head, anarm fixed on said shaft, and a pivoted lever adapted to be moved by saidmovable contact-rail for moving said arm.

21. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, and a switch device, saidswitch device comprising an oscillatory shaft, a switch-head on saidshaft, two insulating-blocks inserted in said switch-head on oppositesides thereof, a contact-finger in electric connection with saidfeeder-main adapted to contact said switchhead, a contact-finger inelectric connection with said contact-rail also adapted to contact saidswitch-head, an armfixed on said shaft, a rod pivotally connected withsaid arm, pivotal links for sustaining said movable contactrail, apivoted bell-crank lever, and a connecting-rod for connecting one ofsaid links with said bell-crank lever.

22. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, arestoring devicein said shunt-circuit, and mechanical means foroscillating said switchhead.

23. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, arestoring device in said shunt-circuit, and a mechanical connectionbetween the movable rail and said switch-head for oscillating thelatter.

24. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch-head,a circuitin shunt to said switch-h ead, a restoring device in saidshunt-circuit, and a mechanical connection between the movable rail andsaid switchhead for oscillating the latter, which mechanical connectioncomprises a connectingrod, a crank-arm and a sliding rod.

25. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, arestoring-switch and a solenoid in said shuntcircuit, a core for saidsolenoid, and mechanical means for oscillating said switch-head.

26. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch-head,a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, a restoring-switch and asolenoid in said shunt-circuit, a core for said solenoid, said corebeing adapted to be moved with said switch-head, and mechanical meansfor moving said switch-head.

27. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch-head,a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, a restoring-switch and asolenoid in said shunt-circuit, a core for said solenoid, an arm forsupporting said core, whichi'arm is fixed with relation to theswitchhead, andtmechanical means adapted to be actuated by a passing carfor oscillatingthe switch-head. r A

28. [n an-electric switch device, in combination, a main circuitnormally open; a switchhead oscillatory upon a vertical center for IOUcircuit, a core for said solenoid, and mechan ical means for oscillatingsaid switch-head.

5. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising aswitch-head oscillatory upon a vertical center, a circuit in shunt tosaid switch-head, a restoring-switch and asolenoid in said shuntcircuit,a core for said solenoid, said core beingadapt'ed-to be moved with theswitch-head, and mechanical means for oscillating said switch-head.

6. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising'aswitch-head oscillatory upon a vertical center, a circuit in shunttosaid switch-head, a restoring-switch and a solenoid shunt-circuit, acore for said solenoid, an arm for supporting said core, which arm isfixed with relation to said switch-head, and mechanical means adapted tobe actuated by a passing car for oscillating said switch-head.

7. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, adapted to be mechanically set by the movementof the movable rail, means for electrically restoring the switch-head ofanother block to a position of rest, and mechanical means for actuatingsaid setting means and said restoring means. 8. In an electric railway,in combination, a main circuit; and a contact-rail made up of aplurality of blocks, each block comprising a fixed contact-rail, amovable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatory upon a vertical center,adapted to electrically incorporate one of said blocks in said maincircuit, a circuit in shunt to said switch-head, a restoring-switch anda solenoid in said shunt-circuit; and mechanicalmeans for oscillatingsaid switch-head.

9. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main 5 and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of-blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, adapted to be mechanically set by the movementof the movable rail, and means for electrically restoring saidswitch-head to a position of rest.

10. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, adapted to be mechanically set by the movementof the movable rail, and a solenoid for electrically restoring saidswitch-head to a position of rest.

11. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, a switch-head oscillatoryupon a vertical center, adapted to be mechanically set by the movementof the movable rail, means for electrically restoring said switch deviceto a position of rest, and means operated by each movable rail foractuating the restoring means in another block.

12. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch-head,a crank-arm for oscillating said head, and a mechanical connectionbetween the crank-arm and the movable rail.

13. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made upof a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory shaft, aswitch-head fixed on said shaft, an arm also fixed on said shaft, asliding rod pivotally connected with said arm, and means adapted to beactuated by the movement of said movable rail for sliding said rod andoscillating said shaft.

14. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory shaft, aswitch-head fixed on said shaft, an arm also fixed on said shaft, asliding rod pivotally connected with said arm, and a bell-crank leverhaving a connectingrod connection with said movable rail, one arm ofwhich bell-crank lever is adapted to impinge upon said sliding rod tooscillate said shaft and said switch-head.

15. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, an oscillatory switch-head,a crank-arm for oscillating said head, pivotal links for supporting saidmovable rail, a bell-crank lever having a connecting-rod connection withone of said pivotal links, and a sliding rod extending between one armof said bell-crank lever and said crank-arm.

16. In an electric railway, in combination, a feeder-main; and acontact-rail made up of a plurality of blocks, each block comprising afixed contact-rail, a movable contactrail, and a switch device, saidswitch device comprising an oscillatory shaft, a switch-head on saidshaft, a contact-finger in electric connection with said feeder-mainadapted to contact said switch-head, a contact-finger in electricconnection with said contact-rail also adapted to contact said head,means'for insulating one of said fingers from said. head, and means formechanically oscillating said head.

17. In an electric railjway, incombination,

a feeder-main; and a cd tacterail.madeuplof Qmrri ina a plurality ofblocks, eachbloc ICO fixed contact-rail, a movable contact-rail, Q11,

oscillatory switch devictt z adapted to be me closing said main circuit;a circuit in shunt to the break in said main circuit; a restoring devicein said shunt-circuit; and mechanical means for oscillating saidswitch-head for said main circuit, which mechanical means comprises aconnecting-rod, a crank-arm and a sliding rod.

29. In an electric switch device, in combination,a main circuit normallyopen; a switchhead oscillatory upon a vertical center for closing saidmain circuit; a circuitin shunt to the break in said main circuit; arestoringswitch and a solenoid in said shunt-circuit; a core for saidsolenoid; and mechanical means for oscillating said switch-head, whichmechanical means comprises a connecting-rod, a crank-arm and a slidingrod.

30. In an electric switch device, in combination, a main circuitnormally open; a circuit-closer for said main circuit, whichcircuit-closer comprises a switchhead oscillatory upon a verticalcenter; a circuit in shunt to the break in said main circuit; arestoring disk, contact-fingers for said disk, and a solenoid in saidshunt-circuit; and a mechanical connection between the oscillatoryswitchhead and a means moved by the contact-shoe of a car, whichmechanical connection comprises a connecting-rod, a crankarm and asliding rod.

31. In an electric switch device, in combination, a main circuitnormally open; a circuit-closer for said main circuit; a circuit inshunt to the break in said main circuit; a restoring-switch and asolenoid in said shunt circuit; a core for said solenoid, said corebeing adapted to be moved with the circuitcloser for the main circuit;and mechanical means for moving said circuit-closer.

32. In an electric switch device for electric railways, in combination,a main circuit normally open; a circuit-closer for said main circuit; acircuit in shunt to the break in said main circuit; a restoring-switchand a solen oid in said shunt-circuit; a core for said solenoid; an armfor supporting said core,which arm is fixed with relation to thecircuit-closer for the main circuit; and mechanical means adapted to beactuated by a passing car for moving the circuit-closer for the maincircuit.

33. In an electric switch device, in combination, an oscillatoryshaftfiSWltOh-llfid and a restoring-disk fixed on said shaft; main-circuitcontact-fingers for said switch head; means forinsulatingsaidcontact-fingers from said switch-head; shunt-circuit contact-fingers forsaid restoring-disk; and mechanical means for moving said switch-head inone direction.

34. In an electric switch device, in combination, an oscillatory shaft;a switch-head and a restoring-disk fixed on said shaft; main-circuitcontact-fingers for said switch-head; means for insulating saidcontact-fingers from said switch-head; shunt circnit contact-fingers forsaid restoringdisk; an arm fixed on said shaft; and a sliding rodpivotally connected with said arm.

35. In an electric switch device, in combination, an oscillatory shaft;a switch-head and arestoring-disk fixed on said shaft; maincircuitcontact-fingers for said switch-head; means for insulating saidcontact-fingers from said switch-head; shunt-circuit contact-fingers forsaid restoring-disk; an arm fixed on said shaft; a sliding rod pivotallyconnected with said arm; a solenoid; and a core for said solenoid fixedon said arm.

36. In an electric switch device, in combination, an oscillatory shaft;a switch-head and a restoring-disk fixed on said shaft; maincircuitcontact-fingers for said switch-head; means for insulating saidcontact-fingers from said switch-head; shunt-circuit contact-fingers forsaid restoring-disk; an arm fixed on said shaft; a solenoid; and a corefor said solenoid fixed on said arm.

37. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable surfaceofinsulating material; a c011- tact-plate on said surface; acontact-finger adapted to contact said surface and said contact-plate; aguide-linger secured to said surface and curved over said contact-plate,said guide-finger being offset from said surface and having an openingin said offset portion; said contact-finger having a pin adapted to passthrough said opening when the insulating-surface is moved in onedirection relative to said finger and to ride up on said guidefingerwhen said surface is moved in the opposite direction.

38. In an electric switch, in combination, an oscillatory shaft; aswitch-head and arestoring-disk fixed on said shaft, said restoring-diskbeing provided with contact-plates and having an offset inclinedguide-finger with an opening in its offset portion; maincircuitcontact-fingers for said switch-head; means for insulating saidcontact-fingers from said switch-head; shunt-circuit contact-fingers forsaid restoring-disk, one of said contact-fingers being provided with apin adapted to enter the openingin said inclined guidefinger when therestoringdisk is rotated in one direction and to ride up on saidinclined surface when the disk is rotated in the contrary direction; andmechanical means for moving said switch-head in one direction.

39. As a means for actuating a switch device for electric railways, incombination, a movable contact-rail; pivotal links for supporting saidrail; a pivoted bell-crank lever; a connecting-rod extending between oneof said pivoted links and one of the arms of said bell-crank lever; anda rod adapted to be moved by said bell-crank lever, said rod having anoperative engagement with a switch to move the latter.

ED WILSON FARNHAM.

Witnesses: GRACE L. WooDBuRY, L. L. MILLER.

